‘Eaters headed to NCAAs

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Junior Tim Cha shot a seven-under-par 64 in Saturday’s final round as the UC Irvine men’s golf team finished third in the NCAA East Regional at Council Fire Golf Club in Chattanooga, Tenn.

By finishing in the top 10 at the regional, Coach Paul Smolinski’s Anteaters earned a trip to the NCAA Championship May 28-31 on The Kampen Course at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Ind.

Cha’s round was the lowest of the day in the 141-player field in Chattanooga as he recorded nine birdies and two bogeys.

UCI shot a six-under team total of 278 in the final round and finished with a 54-hole total of 16-under 836.

Georgia, the nation’s No. 1-ranked team, shot nine-under 275 Saturday to post a three-round score of 41-under 811. Augusta State finished second in the regional with a 20-under total of 832 in the 27-team field.

UCI, ranked 46th nationally, finished ahead of 14 teams ranked higher in the country’s top 50.

Anteater junior Sean Shahi shot a two-under 69 Saturday and finished fourth in the tournament with a three-round total of nine-under 204.

Sophomore John Chin, with a 72 in the final round, placed 14th at five-under 208. Cha finished 29th with a two-under total of 211.

Senior Kenny Kim carded a 73 Saturday and placed 38th at 213. Freshman Max Griel shot 82 and finished 135th at 235.

Russell Henley of Georgia and Zach Sucher from UAB tied for medalist honors with 54-hole scores of 13-under 200. Henley shot a 66 Saturday and Sucher 69.

The Anteaters made a big move Friday in the second round, climbing 10 spots to tie for third entering Saturday’s final round. UCI shot a nine-under total of 275 Friday.

“We obviously are excited about the way we played this week,” said Smolinski, in his 10th year as UCI’s head coach. “With Sean leading the way, the guys were motivated to play well.

“Tim had the great round today and John Chin had a strong tournament. Kenny Kim also had a good week as well. Overall, it was a great week for us.”

This will be UCI’s first trip to the NCAA Championship since 2001, when the Anteaters finished third at the West Regional. UCI also advanced to the NCAA Division I finals in 1992.

UCI, which turned NCAA Division I July 1, 1977, won the 1975 NCAA Division II title.

— From staff reports